THE St Catherine Denbigh Agricultural Show Committee says all is in place for its participation in the 52nd staging of the Jamaica Agricultural Society’s (JAS) Denbigh Agricultural Show, scheduled for July 31 to August 2 at the Denbigh showground in May Pen, Clarendon.

Parish Manager for the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), St Catherine, Andrew Carty, told JIS News that preparation for the show was expected to cost approximately $250,000.

The work, he said, involved the refurbishing and construction of stalls and setting up of displays at Denbigh.

There were also plans “to recycle and repaint some of the old stalls,” Carty added.

Additionally, Carty said private sector agencies and individuals in the parish would be providing cash as well as materials, such as lumber, paint, cement, and blocks for construction work at the pavilion.

Displays to be mounted by the committee will be centred on the theme, “We are what we eat, so let’s eat Jamaican,” in keeping with the Eat Jamaican Campaign launched by the JAS last November.

Carty said the parish would feature three “adaptable technologies” that small farmers could utilise to enhance their production and productivity. He added that there would be video presentations and live demonstrations explaining the use and function of each technology.

Some of the special features that will go on display are a water display highlighting the fauna and flora within the parish and an ornamental fish display.

A “Youth in Agriculture” exhibit will also be set up by students of the Dinthill Technical High School in Linstead, to showcase some of the agricultural activities of the school.

In addition, two small industries in the parish, which use indigenous materials to create employment and produce goods for local and export markets, will be highlighted.